Skip to Content

Codium fragile (Suhr) Hariot

Also known widely in the literature as Codium fragile subsp. tomentosoides.

Vernacular names: Spúinse (Ireland), Green Sponge Fingers, Green Sea Fingers, Velvet Horns (Britain), Fleece, Sponge Tang (North America), Chonggak (Korea), Miru (Japan)

Fact Sheet (Download PDF)

Description: A spongy, dichotomously branched light-green velvety alga without distinct flattening at the forks of the branches. Often covered in white hairs (below).
A number of subspecies have been described, some of which have been introduced in various parts of the world. Although two spubspecies were widely accepted as having been introduced into Britain and Ireland, recent detailed genetic studies have shown that this is not the case.
Habitat: Mainly in deeper rock pools in the upper and mid-shore; relatively uncommon in Ireland and Britain.
Distribution:NE Atlantic: Netherlands (Stegenga et al., 1997). Britain (Burrows, 1991). Ireland (Guiry, 1978; Burrows, 1991). N. France (Feldmann & Magne, 1964). N. Spain (Pérez-Cirera et al., 1989). Azores (Neto, 1994).
Mediterranean: Spain (Ballesteros, 1981; Ballesteros & Romero, 1982; Gallardo et al., 1985). Adriatic shore of Italy (Furnari et al., 1999). Adriatic (Battelli & Vukovic, 1995; Battelli, 1996). Greece (Gerloff & Geissler, 1974).
Australasia: New Zealand (Adams, 1994, adventive).

Identification guide for selected marine non-native species (National Museum Wales). (Download free PDF, about 3.5 Mb).


Link: Algaebase

Species list

  • Bio AtlantisBioAtlantis provides sustainable technologies from the sea to enhance plant, animal and human health.
  • Connemara Organic Seaweed CompanyConnemara Organic Seaweed Company provide hand harvested, sustainable, kelp and seaweed products for human consumption through health supplements and edible products.
  • Emerald Isle Organic Irish SeaweedEmerald Isle Organic Irish Seaweed. A family business producing seaweed as supplements, cooking, gardening and bath products.
  • Irish Seaweeds LtdIrish Seaweeds Ltd are suppliers of 100% natural hand-harvested seaweeds and edible sea vegetable products from Ireland.